Steam generating apparatus



P 29, 1959 J. E. PARKER 2,906,258

STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1 a m Ii I II I; h: :1, {n I I" I I" '9 Ii M lh l I 30 'T II I I s I I l L... 1

' III i? 5 65 :1 VI

W F1 ;f.2

mmvrbk.

BY (JESSE PARKER ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1959 J. E. PARKER STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1 1954 INVENTOR.

15555 E. PARKER ATTORNEYS United States Patent STEAM GENERATING APPARATUS Jesse E. Parker, Columbus, Ohio Application June 1, 1954, Serial No. 433,409

6 Claims. (Cl. 126-362) The present in vention relates generally to apparatus for generating steam for commercial uses.

The steam generating machines presently being used by industry possess the general disadvantages of excessive weight and bulk and hence lack the features of portability and compactness required by light commercial operators where only limited space is available. Accordingly, the present apparatus embodies certain novel features which make possible the efiicient and safe operation of relatively light and compact equipment at a high rate of steam production. Hence the present apparatus is particularly useful for light commercial applications such as garment finishing, cooking, plastic processing, and other like operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide steam generating apparatus which provides a high rate of steam production as compared with the size of; the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide, in an apparatus of the type described, means for applying thermal energy to water in a novel and efiicient manner whereby a high rate of steam output is obtained for a relatively small amount of; fuel expended.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type described wherein thermal energy is applied to water passing through a novel coil and heat shield arrangement whereby the water is heated in a highly efiicient manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus. of the type described whereby heated water moving at a high velocity is discharged into a steam generating tank of relatively small size and below the surface level of water confined in the tank. A novel velocity arresting means is provided within the tank whereby the 1 rapidly moving water discharged therein is prevented from forcing water upwardly into the steam confining portion of the tank.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel steam generating apparatus for producing steam for industrial equipment which apparatus utilizes the kinetic energy of water supplied to the water intake of the apparatus for drawing condensed steam from said equipment back to the steam generating apparatus.

It is, still another object of the present invention to provide a novel steam generating apparatus which includes a tank to and from which Wateriscirculated and in which water is maintained at a controlled level to produce steam; said tank is mounted in a novel non-rigid manner whereby the associated portions of the apparatus are protected from forces and vibrations when the tank is in a state of agitation during operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein; a preferred form of embodiment is clearly shown.

In t e d a gs;

Figure 1 is a front view partially in sectionof the steam gener tin ppara us f. he pre e t iny n ien w h. h

section being taken substantially along the line 11 of Figure 2; p Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the preceding figures;

Figure 4 is a top sectional view of a tank and velocity arresting means of the present invention with the section being taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the velocity arresting means of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top view showing a steam generating coil arrangement constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a partial sectional view showing the lower mounting apparatus for a water tank utilized in the present apparatus with the section being taken substantially along the line 7--7 of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of apparatus for inducing the return of condensed steam to the water tank of the present steam generating apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a steam generating apparatus constructed according to the present invention and including a frame 10 which supports a cabinet including side walls 12 and 13 and a top wall 15.

With reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the cabinet is formed with a removable case portion including a front wall 17 and a rearwall 18 which are joined by the end wall 12. I

A tank, indicated generally at 2.0, is formed with a circular side wall portion 22, a top 23, and a bottom 24. A pair of vertically extending members 26 and 28 support the tank 20 on the frame 10 in a manner later to be described.

A pipe 30 leads from a source of water supply and serves to carry water to the pipe 32 which conducts water into the tank through a hole 33 in the bottom thereof. A water level controlling apparatus 36, including a visual indicator 37 in the form of a vertically extending glass tube, is in communication with the tank at the bottom, through the lines 39- and 40 and in communication with said tank at the top through the lines 43, 44 and 45, with the latter entering the tank at an opening 47. The pur pose ofthe water level control apparatus 36 is to maintain the surface level; 50 of the water 51 at a constant predetermined level as shown in Figure 1 The hens ingof; apparatus 36 contains a suitable level sensing means, such as a; float, whichactuates asuitable valve means, not illustrated, located along the intake pipe 3!). When thelevel control apparatus senses a drop in the water level in tank 2t)v the valve means along intake pipe 30 is opened. When the level control apparatus senses a rise in they water level the valve means along intake pipe 5!) is throttled. It will be understood that since the top and. bottom of the level control apparatus communicate with the top and bottom, respectively, of tank 20, the

surface. level of the. water in the level control apparatus will be the same as the surface level 50 of the water in tank 20. The level control apparatus 36 may be pro,- vided with manual adjusting means for selecting various predetermined Water levels as may be required for various operating conditions.

A pipe 45 is connected to the upper portion of tank 2.0

at a steam discharge opening 47. The pipe 45 leads to bottom ends of each of the generating coils are in communic'ation with a common pipe 66 which is removably mounted to the pipe 67 which passes through the side wall 22 of the tank in mounted relationship therewith. In a similar manner, the upper end of each generating coil is in communication with a common pipe 70 which is removably mounted to a tube 72 which extends through the side wall 22 of the water tank. A pair of couplings 75 are provided to secure the generating coil unit 56 to the tank 20 in a readily detachable manner. With further reference to the generating coil unit, caps 76 serve as closures for the collector tubes 60 and 70. A suitable heating element 80 is located beneath the steam generating coils for applying heat thereto. I

To confine and efficiently direct the heat to the heating coils, a shield 82 is extended around the heating coils, and a cone-shaped deflector 84, having an outer heat reflecting surface 85, is centrally disposed relative to the shield 82 with the apex of the cone-deflector 84 extending downwardly and centrally of the steam generating coil.

It will therefore be seen that a confined passage 86 is formed between the inner surface of the shield 82 and the outer reflecting surface 85 of the cone-shaped deflector 84. Hence the heated air rising upwardly from the burner 80 is directed over and confined to the coils 61, 62 and 63. Moreover, heat passing centrally upwardly through the coils is directed radially outwardly by the outer surface 85 of the deflector 84 and into contact with the surfaces of the upper portions of the coils or produce a concentrated heating effect on such upper coil portions.

The novel apparatus for generating steam and arresting the velocity of the heated fluid being directed into the tank 20 will next be described in detail. With reference to Figure 1, it will be understood that prior to the application of heat, the coils 60, 61, 62 and 63 will be filled with water since these coils lie below water level 50 in tank 20. When heat is applied to the coils,

will progressively increase to some maximum high velocity value depending on the heat energy being supplied.

Since the water or steam and water is being supplied from a large heated coil volume and then directed into the single collecting pipe 70, it will be appreciated that the hot water or steam and water will be discharged into the water in the tank 20 at high velocity. If the rapidly moving water were merely discharged into the tank 20 from an open-ended pipe, which would be the case were the present velocity arrester not provided, the energy of the water entering at high velocity would cause upward splashing of water into the steam chamber lying above the water 1 level 50 which forms the boundary at which steam is continuously being formed. Such upward splashing into the steam containing portion of the tank must be prevented in order to avoid the production of excessively wet 'steam and to avoid the passage of water outwardly through rester is utilized. As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the ve- 1 locity arrester includes a hollow shank 100 having a closed end 101 and opposed laterally directed exit ports 104 and 105. Hot fluid entering the tank through the pipe 72 is divided into two laterally directed jets one of which passes out of the exit port 104 and follows the path of the arrow 106 due to the guiding action of the inner wall of the tank 20. The other jet of hot fluid,

4 being discharged out of the exit port 105, follows the course of the arrow 107, and, due to the guiding effect of the inner wall of the tank, the two jets of fluid are caused to impinge, one upon the other, at 110. Upon impingement, the converging jets dissipate kinetic energy and cancel each others velocity to a substantial extent. As a result, the water in the tank 20 lying above the level of the velocity arrester is maintained relatively quiescent and the splashing of water upwardly above the surface level 50 is substantially eliminated.

The above described velocity arrester may be located below the water surface level 50 in the manner illustrated whereby the jets of hot water are discharged into the water and are subjected to the retarding effect of viscous drag of the water. Moreover, when the discharged jets of hot water are submerged, the water level 50 and the steam chamber thereabove will be devoid of splashing which would otherwise cause small rapidly moving drops of water to be present in the steam passing out through discharge pipe 45.

With further reference to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that the exit ports 104 and are provided with laterally directed baflles 112 and 113 which baffles serve to'more effectively produce the change in direction of the moving fluid in forming the submerged jets passing outwardly through the exit ports 104 and 105.

Referring next to Figure 8, novel apparatus for inducing the return of water produced from steam at the equipment to which steam is supplied, is shown in enlarged relationship. A return pipe for such condensed steam, originates at the equipment to which steam is being applied, and has a discharge opening 121 in communication with the housing 122. The pipe 30 carries the intake water being supplied to the tank 20, with such pipe 30 entering the housing 22 in the manner shown in Figure 8. It will be noted that the longitudinal axis of water intake pipe 30 is transversely disposed relative to the axis of the return pipe 120, and that the exit end of pipe 30 extends downwardly beyond the center line of pipe 120. Moreover, the end of the water line 30 is provided with a beveled shoulder 126. With this arrangement, the energy of the jet of intake water at arrow 128 will produce a low pressure region at arrow 130. Hence it will be understood that the arrangement of Figure 8 produces a venturi action which is utilized to positively induce the return flow of condensed steam from the equipment through the pipe 120 with such return stream 130 being reintroduced into the tank 20 along with the intake water stream 128.

Referring next to Figures 1 and 7, a novel non-rigid mounting structurefor the tank 20 is illustrated in detail. As seen in Figure 7, the side wall 22 of the tank 20 rigidly carries pivot tubes 136 and 137 which extend respectively through the holes 140 and 141 in the supports 26 and 28 extending upwardly from the frame of the apparatus. A pair of caps 143 serve as closures for the outer ends of the tubes 136 and 137. Upon removal of the caps 143, an opening is provided to the interior of the lower portion of the tank 20 whereby accumulated sediment and foreign material can readily be removed from the tank. In addition, a removable plug 146 is provided in the bottom of the tank, whereby water can be drained therefrom.

Referring next to Figure 1, it will be seen that the upper portion of the tank 20 is also provided with nonrigid supporting means in the form of the members 150 which are rigidly attached to the inner wall of the cabinet at 152 and extend downwardly into the recess in the top tank closure member 23. It should be noted 'that the members 150 are not rigidly attached to the top closure 23, but merely engage the tank and cooperate with the lower pivot tubes 136 and 137 to maintain the tank in a non-rigid vertically extending configuration. Hence it will be understood that when the equipment is in operation and agitations and vibrations are being imposed on the tank 22 by the steam producing activity the tank and associated apparatus which is secured thereto, will be supported in a non-rigid manner whereby the magnitude of the agitations and vibrations transmitted to the supporting frame and casing will be greatly reduced. Hence smooth operation with a low noise level is achieved which makes the present apparatus acceptable for many locations at which. conventional steam generating machines could not be tolerated.

Referring next to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the present apparatus is provided with a safety valve 160, which is in communication with the steam containing portion of the tank. In addition, a pressure gauge 162 also communicates with such tank portion. Referring to the lower portion of the views, a check valve 164 is provided in the return line 120 from the equipment, and a blow-out valve 165 communicates with the tank 20 through the pipe 40 and the T 166. The blow-out valve can be opened at frequent intervals, whereby the sediment which accumulates in the bottom of the tank will be carried out by escaping pressurized water.

In summary, it will be understood that the various novel features of the preceding description are utilized to produce a novel steam generating apparatus which provides a high rate of steam production as compared with the size of the machine and its component struc tural parts. Moreover, thermal energy is applied to the water in a novel and efiicient manner in generating coils located exterior of the water tank whereby fuel economy is realized and, although high velocities of water discharge are produced by such generating apparatus, due to the novel velocity arrester of the present invention the high velocities are elfectively controlled whereby the heated water can be discharged into a relatively small tank without producing excessively wet steam or forcing water into the equipment to which steam is being supplied. Accordingly, the equipment is relatively efiicient, inexpensive and compact as compared with conventional steam generating apparatus of like capacity.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. An apparatus for generating steam comprising a frame, a small cylindrical water tank supported in vertical position by said frame, said tank having a cold water intake opening at the bottom thereof and a steam discharge opening at the top thereof, water level means connected to said tank for maintaining a predetermined water level in said tank and a steam zone therein above the water level, water heating coil means within said frame laterally spaced from and in close proximity to said tank and supplying a high velocity flow of steam and water to said tank, heating means for heating said coil means, said coil means having lower inlet conduit means extending in transverse relationship to said tank for connecting said coil means to said tank and upper discharge conduit means extending in transverse relationship to said tank, and flow velocity retarding conduit means connected to the discharge end of said upper conduit means and extending into said tank below said water level in transverse relations-hip to said tank, said retarding conduit means having its free end closed and having opposed, horizontally positioned opening rearwardly of the closed end thereof for passing the high velocity stream out horizontally on either side of the retarding conduit means into separate portions and effecting convergence of said portions from opposing directions.

2. An apparatus for generating steam comprising a frame, a small cylindrical water tank supported in vertical position by said frame, said tank having a cold water intake opening at the bottom thereof and a steam discharge opening at the top thereof, water level means connected to said tank for maintaining a predetermined water level in said tank and a steam zone therein above the water level, water heating coil means within said frame laterally spaced from and in close proximity to said tank and supplying a high velocity flow of steam and water to said tank, heating means for heating said coil means, said coil means having lower inlet conduit means extending in transverse relationship to said tank for connecting said coil means to said tank and upper discharge conduit means extending in transverse relationship to said tank, flow velocity retarding conduit means connected to the discharge end of said upper conduit means and extending into said tank below said water level in transverse relationship to said tank, said retarding conduit means having its free end closed and having opposed, horizontally positioned openings rearwardly of the closed end thereof for passing the high velocity stream out horizontally on either side of the retarding conduit means into Separate portions and'eifecting convergence of said portions from opposing directions, and return means for passing condensed steam to the water tank, said return means including a conduit elbow housing connected at one end to said water inlet means of said tank, fresh water conduit means connected to the opposite end of said elbow housing in substantially transverse relationship to said water inlet means, the free end of said water conduit means having an inwardly beveled shoulder, and condensed steam conduit return means connected to said elbow housing in substantially transverse relationship to said water conduit means, with the center point of said steam return means lying just above the beveled free end of said water conduit means whereby a venturi action is created in said elbow housing to draw the condensed steam therein.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coil means includes a plurality of vertically extending coaxially disposed coils of different diameters.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coil means and heating means are surrounded by a vertically extending casing whereby heat from said heating means is directed and confined to said coil means.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coil means and heating means are surrounded by a vertically extending open topped casing, and a vertically extending heat reflecting member is mounted at the upper central portion of said coil means and spaced from said casing, said casing and member forming a restricted passage for increasing the heat eifect on said upper portion of said coil means.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each opening in said velocity retarding conduit means is provided with a horizontal baffle plate extending out wardly from the conduit means adjacent the closed end thereof and in substantially transverse relationship thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 478,494 Young July 5, 1892 1,451,551 Muehliesen Apr. 10, 1923 1,613,347 Ermatinger Jan. 4, 1927 1,651,692 Geaslen Dec. 6, 1927 1,713,685 Austin May 21, 1929 2,034,473 Kitamura Mar. 17, 1936 2,123,809 Seitz July 12, 1938 2,151,140 Novak Mar. 21, 1939 2,276,093 Robbins Mar. 10, 1942 2,708,436 Foster May 17, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,247 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1905 526,189 Germany June 3, 1931 378,123 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1932 

